Good, But Not Good Enough

## 1. The Question That Exposes Everything Read the anchor passage together.

> And behold, a man came up to him, saying, 'Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?' And he said to him, 'Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.' He said to him, 'Which ones?' And Jesus said, 'You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' The young man said to him, 'All these I have kept. What do I still lack?' Jesus said to him, 'If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.' When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Matthew 19:16-22)

What did the young man assume about himself and about Jesus when he asked, 'What good deed must I do?' Why does Jesus redirect him to the commandments instead of giving him a simple checklist?

## 2. The Mirror of the Law The sermon described the law as a mirror that reveals our problem, not a ladder we climb to earn heaven. Consider these words from Romans:

> Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:19-20)

Why do you think Jesus points this 'good' person to specific commands he thinks he has already kept? How does the law expose the gap between 'pretty good' and 'actually perfect'?

## 3. The Standard Nobody Meets Jesus and Paul make the requirement clear:

> You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)

> For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

The preacher said human goodness always falls short of the perfection required for eternal life. How does hearing that 'perfect' is the goal — not just 'better than most' — change the way you view your own record? Why is it good news that we can stop trying to earn God's acceptance?

## 4. Righteousness That Is a Gift After showing us the bad news, the Bible points to the only solution. Read this:

> But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it — the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe... and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. (Romans 3:21-25)

What does it mean that righteousness is a gift received by faith, not a paycheck earned by behavior? Why did the preacher stress that we are saved by Christ's works, not ours?

## 5. What Are You Holding On To? Jesus looked at the young man and loved him, then said:

> 'You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.' (Mark 10:21)

The sermon called Jesus our 'Priceless Treasure.' What is one thing you are tempted to trust in for your identity, security, or acceptance — grades, reputation, money, relationships, or your own moral record? How does Jesus' call to follow him challenge what you are clinging to?

## 6. Springboard: The 'Pretty Good' Friend A friend says, 'I'm a good person. I don't do bad stuff, I try to help others, and I think God will let me into heaven because my good outweighs my bad.' Using today's passage and the verses below, discuss how you could respond with both truth and grace.

> For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight. (Romans 3:20)

> If righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. (Galatians 2:21)

What are the most loving — and clear — things you can say to help your friend see the difference between 'good enough' and 'perfect,' and to point them to the grace found only in Jesus?